YREKA – As the nation turns its attention to recent cases of mass shootings, local school officials are devising safety and response plans to ensure their students’ safety in the event of a violent incident on school grounds.

County-wide school district superintendents gathered in Yreka Tuesday morning to meet with Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey and Lt. Mark Hilsenberg and gain insight into the development of an effective safety plan for their respective districts.

“These are challenging times we are living in right now,” commented Hilsenberg, adding it is sad that officials have to hold a meeting to discuss prevention measures of this nature. “I know this seems overwhelming … We are not trying to instill fear; we are trying to share knowledge.”

Lopey noted that many county school districts already have a safety plan in place, and deputies have recently visited many schools to review and analyze these plans.

However, Lopey stated some of the understaffed districts have had difficulty updating their safety plans. He suggested that each district begin by identifying realistic threats and then basing the plans around those threats. When districts fully develop their plans, he recommended that they participate in safety drills.

Lopey also pointed out that a small percentage of county residents suffer from mental health and drug problems. He urged attendees to be aware of the histories of parents, students and others affiliated with the respective districts and to report suspicious behaviors to law enforcement, and/or the behavioral health department, for intervention. Lopey said districts should be aware of all active restraining orders and, in general, expand communication about crisis situations – such as domestic violence – among the families they serve.

Regarding the recent mass shootings, Lopey stated that many of the school staff members at those institutions were familiar with the perpetrators, and “most of the time there are warning signs” staff should be aware of.

Hilsenberg commented that the sheriff’s office will conduct wellness checks on families at the request of district staff, and these checks are a good opportunity for officials to meet parents and identify potential problems.

“We must adopt a new mindset and be alert of our surroundings at all times,” Lopey stated. He explained that maintaining alertness and avoiding complacency is critical in deterring criminals from targeting a facility. Furthermore, he shared that during his anti-terrorist training when he was in the military, he learned that criminals will often target organizations that appear to lack security measures.

First and foremost, Lopey stated that all school districts should provide a school map to local law enforcement agencies. In Siskiyou County, the first responding officers are trained to enter the facility immediately to mitigate the situation.

Page 2 of 2 - Furthermore, Lopey stressed the importance of all school faculty, staff and volunteers to receive training on the planned procedures in the event of a school tragedy.

Hilsenberg pointed out that when tragedy strikes, it is very common for people to panic and fail to remember the steps they must take to mitigate a dangerous situation, and sometimes they can barely think to call 9-1-1. He suggested that each faculty and staff member be trained to do two things in the event of a shooting – because the more actions one person is delegated to take, the harder it will be for him or her to remember in the heat of the moment.

Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Keith Bradley stated that safety plans should include measures for parents’ response in the event of a tragedy. He said there should be a meeting place for parents at the school following a potential tragedy where they may obtain information about the incident and safely reunite with their children.

Hilsenberg reiterated that sheriff’s deputies will visit schools to assist with drills and safety planning.

“Let’s be as prepared as we can be,” said Lopey. He added that rather than developing a safety plan as a “knee-jerk reaction” to national tragedies, districts should develop long-term plans to ensure the long-term security of their school facilities, students and staff.